Social interactions of juvenile cod under intensive rearing conditions

The project is aimed at examining social interactions, activity and energetic expenditure of juvenile cod in relation to varying size distribution and fish density under intensive culture conditions. We will do this by quantifaction of general activity, a gonistic encounters, feeding pattern and and spatial/temporal distribution in the rearing tanks. The observations will be carried out for three age groups, both under experimental conditions and under an actual commercial rearing situation. We will use ad vanced video and computer techniques to analyse the social interactions. Activity parameters will be correlatd to energetic expenditure by respirometry. The project will produce results that in many ways are important for aquaculture. First, we will devel op a stereo video technique for observation of behaviour and activity of juvenile cod under intensive rearing conditions. Preliminary results show that the fish size and swimming speed may be determined by steriocinematograpic techniq